The Great Train Robbery

“THIS is not just a robbery. This is an attack on the very cornerstone of England.”

The Great Train Robbery is a new two-part BBC1 drama which tells the story of the crime of the century from both sides.

Feature length A Robber’s Tale and A Copper’s Tale star Luke Evans as robbery mastermind Bruce Reynolds and Jim Broadbent as the detective who caught him.

Writer Chris Chibnall details for the first time on screen the minute by minute drama of the 1963 robbery, along with the story of how it was planned – and what went wrong.

Then turning his attention to the specially assembled squad of Scotland Yard detectives and the investigation that tracked down the gang and brought them to justice.

It’s a story of one man taking on the Establishment….and losing.

Along with a gripping tale of two teams of men both intent on achieving their goals on different sides of the law.

The second of my ITV Drama Press Pack interviews:

“If there was ever a story that typified that crime doesn’t pay, this would be it,” says Daniel Mays.
 
“It’s a controversial story. Ronnie Biggs divides opinion, even to this day. To some he represents a folk hero. But others said, ‘Lock him up and throw away the key.’
 
“My biggest challenge is to test people’s pre-conceived ideas of who he is. It’s such an incredible story and it merits being told.”

I’ve been lucky enough this summer to write the interviews for four ITV Drama press packs – otherwise known as production notes.

One of the projects was Mrs Biggs, a superb five-part series which begins on ITV1 at 9pm on Wednesday September 5 with a 90 minute opening episode.

Back in February I interviewed the real Mrs Biggs – Charmian – who acted as a consultant on the drama.

And followed that with later interviews involving Sheridan Smith, who plays her on screen, Daniel Mays (Ronnie Biggs) plus writer and executive producer Jeff Pope.